Lucy in Love

By Kimberly M. Miller

Things are finally looking up for Lucy Leti. Her bakery is doing well, her friends are amazing, and her family is supportive. She's even so close to being past the heartbreak of her broken engagement, that she can taste it.

Henry is handsome, successful, and has been secretly in love with Lucy for years. But the musician isn't the same man Lucy knew in high school—he's lost weight and gained confidence.

But when the couple's first date goes terribly wrong, they'll both need a little perspective to see things clearly.

Whatever is Excellent
Ponder This. . .
Look for all titles in the series:

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller
Charlotte's Dilemma by Susan Karsten
Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers
A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James
To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick
This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow
A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf
Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel

• Language: English
• Publisher: Prism Lux
• Release date: Mar 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781522398745

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Lucy in Love

Kimberly M. Miller

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Lucy in Love

COPYRIGHT 2020 by Kimberly M. Miller

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or Pelican Ventures, LLC except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. eBook editions are licensed for your personal enjoyment only. eBooks may not be re-sold, copied or given to other people. If you would like to share an eBook edition, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Contact Information: [e-mail]

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version(R), NIV(R), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations, marked KJV are taken from the King James translation, public domain. Scripture quotations marked DR, are taken from the Douay Rheims translation, public domain.

Scripture texts marked NAB are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition Copyright 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Cover Art by Nicola Martinez

Prism is a division of Pelican Ventures, LLC

www.pelicanbookgroup.com PO Box 1738 *Aztec, NM * 87410

The Triangle Prism logo is a trademark of Pelican Ventures, LLC

Publishing History

Prism Edition, 2020

Electronic Edition ISBN 978-1-5223-9874-5

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

For my precious high school friends.

I am forever grateful for you all.

Titles in the Ponder This Series

Lucy in Love by Kimberly M. Miller

Charlotte’s Dilemma by Susan Karsten

Buttonholed by Anita Klumpers

A Field of Forget-me-nots by Rachel A. James

To Complicate Matters by Linda Widrick

This Worthy Heart by Dixie Jo Jarchow

A Perfect Fit by Christine Schimpf

Everything about Us by Lisa J. Lickel

1

It’s wonderful to see you again, Lucy. Everyone’s grateful for your help with the desserts, Mr. Winters said as he shuffled a stack of papers on the table in front of him.

Lucy scanned the information regarding her donation to a benefit to support her former high school’s music program. She smiled at the man who’d once been her favorite teacher, happy to help him because he made such a difference in her teenage years. Although nearly ten years passed since then, Lucy’s memories of show choir would stay with her always.

I’m happy to do whatever I can, Mr. Winters, Lucy said.

He flinched, making her chuckle. You can call me Dave.

That might always be hard for me—no matter how old I am, she said sheepishly.

Mr. Winters waved her off with a smile as he’d done so many times before. It was rare—and maybe even impossible—for him to get upset for any reason. His good nature meant students loved and respected him.

I’ve asked a few show choir alums to sing one or two of the old standards, he said. Any chance you’d join us?

Oh, my. Lucy thought for a moment. It’s been a while since I’ve sung at all, let alone in front of anyone, she said, pausing only briefly as she recalled how much singing once meant to her. It was the perfect escape from her silent, but often painful, struggles in high school.

Aww, why not? she asked. Sure!

Mr. Winters smiled with relief. Excellent! He shuffled the papers into a stack and slipped them into a folder. I’m glad my part of this is done. Now I can get back to the rest of my job.

Who’s helping you pull everything together? Lucy asked.

Oh, my wife is working on the donation baskets for the raffle. Mr. Jenkins is handling entertainment. I guess he got a band, Mr. Winters shook his head. The less I know the better. I don’t want to deal with more than I already have.

Lucy laughed. Understood. Well, I’m sure the night will go off without a hitch.

Mr. Winters winked. Let’s hope so, he said. He glanced around the bakery. This is a great place. You’ve done really well. He motioned toward the remains of the cream puff on his plate. I think I’d be in trouble if I lived closer, because I’d have to visit every day to see what was on the menu.

Thanks, Lucy said with a smile. She took pride in her business, Slices of Heaven, and appreciated his praise.

I’m excited to finally be settled—or at least working on it. Building a business is as hard as it sounds.

Mr. Winters sipped his coffee before speaking. It sure is, he said. Oh, I forgot to mention that I talked to Ashley Harris. Are you two still in touch?

Lucy hoped her face didn’t register the shock that hit her. She’d managed to finally forget her old ‘friend,’ and she didn’t want her teacher to be embarrassed he brought it up. It would be impossible for him to know that she was delighted to escape high school and its pressure so she could be herself.

I’m afraid we lost touch over the years, Lucy said. What’s she been up to?

She’s the editor-in-chief of the newspaper now. Surprised she hasn’t sent someone over here to do a review of your place. He shrugged. Might be nice free advertising for you.

Lucy’s stomach clenched, thinking that such an article would probably hold little interest for Ashley. Her father ran the newspaper in Fairview Falls, which was only a half hour away from Pittsburgh where Lucy settled and now maintained her business. But the benefit of being in a city was that no one noticed you unless—or until—you wanted them to because they were all busy with their own lives. And Lucy wasn’t anxious to rekindle her friendship with the queen of Fairview Falls High—a queen who’d ruled like a dictator, expecting her friends to fall in line or suffer the consequences.

Lucy still hated that she’d fallen into the trap of surviving at all costs.

Oh. Lucy scrambled to think of something positive to say. Well, I’m sure we’ll catch up. Will she be attending the benefit?

Mr. Winters beamed. Of course! We need all the publicity we can get, and if she can get the information out to the city, we might even get more donations and support.

Lucy didn’t doubt that more support would be great. She simply didn’t want to try building up her life to impress her old friend.

Besides, her ex-fiancé, new business, and small apartment, showed little toward Lucy rebuilding the life she thought she’d have after college. It sure didn’t offer much to brag about.

She forced a smile anyway. That will be great.

So, if she contacts you, don’t be afraid to talk up your bakery, and all the good things we’re going to do for the music program. He pointed to the information. But in the meantime, forward the menu to me when it’s ready, if you don’t mind, so we can make some posters to advertise goodies and prices. I’ll get the day’s schedule and music to you so you can review everything. He winked as he stood. In case you forgot any of the words or melodies.

Lucy laughed as she rose to her feet. Oh, I doubt that, she said. Thanks for stopping by. I’m excited for the benefit.

Me too. It’s great to catch up, Lucy.

Lucy watched her former teacher leave the bakery. The bell on the door gave a cheerful ding behind him.

In a flash, she wondered what happened to her only real friend in high school. With a nostalgic smile, she prayed he’d gotten as far away from Fairview Falls as possible.

~*~

Hey, baby. Alicia’s whiny voice broke through Henry’s concentration even as he tried to continue ignoring her.

He sighed heavily, forcing his attention back to the lyrics he was struggling to write.

It wasn’t lost on him that for years he’d been consumed with trying to get even one woman to acknowledge him. He’d never been picky. Tall, short, blonde, redhead, or brunette—body type, personality, or even education…none of it mattered. The old Henry couldn’t interest a woman at all. But now, with his reputation as a lady’s man, suddenly they crawled out of the woodwork and begged for dates.

All because he lost the better part of one hundred and fifty pounds and discovered a competent dermatologist.

Henry raised his head from his notebook and glanced at his latest girlfriend. Alicia was tall, thin, beautiful, and clearly only interested in Henry because he sat on the edge of fame—at least locally. As the guitarist for the band Milligan, who now boasted a popular single that was being played on local radio stations, Henry was a darling of the local media. With an upcoming CD release in a few weeks, the band members were frequently interviewed on radio stations or featured on various web sites. Women like Alicia loved this. It meant they got to be in the front row, the envy of the other fangirls, and more importantly, a breath away from fame themselves.

Apparently, even local papers and small web sites were enough to satisfy her need for attention.

It was like high school all over again, with popularity being the ultimate measure of success. Since he’d gotten wrapped up in it, Henry couldn’t get away.

The more he thought about the situation, the more Henry realized he was thrilled with what it was doing for his business, No Sour Notes, a music store that also provided lessons on numerous instruments. But his rivaling the band’s namesake and drummer, Otis Milligan, in the relationship department wasn’t at all what Henry expected. While serial dating was entertaining, he wasn’t remotely fulfilled.

Because this went against so much of what he kept hearing he should be doing, the lack of any satisfaction at all confused and disappointed him. Only he wasn’t sure what to do about it.

Henry sighed as his thoughts trailed from the song he was trying to write. Frustrated, he dropped his notebook on the floor and said, "I told you.